Chaotic World Book

Seeing Zhao Changhe finally concentrate and begin practicing the horse stance, Luo Qi rolled her eyes.

The cultivation technique associated with the horse stance looked mediocre at best. However, the fact was that Zhao Changhe's strength was considerable, which also resulted in a very stable lower body; she couldn't budge him by relying on her physical strength alone without using her Inner Strength.

Demon Skill indeed had some tricks to it, but Luo Qi highly doubted whether ordinary people practiced Demon Skill with such sincerity and focus on the basics; thus, how many could truly master it?

On the other side, Zhao Changhe had entered internal visualization.

This internal visualization was quite different from the Inner method of observing True Qi flowing through meridians… What was observed was the flow of blood, resembling a dissection experiment in a biology class, with blood slowly flowing through the vessels, and not only that, but one could also vividly feel the energy and the very real presence of "Blood Qi" and "Evil Qi."

These unique auras and energies intertwined with the blood, merging like a river flowing into the sea, surging wildly.

With Zhao Changhe's level of scientific literacy, this was highly unscientific, but ever since he had seen the Chaotic World Book, he had stopped expecting things to be scientific…

The penetration of this Blood Evil Qi into the muscles and bones greatly augmented his strength. However, at the same time, it rose to the brain, impacting the clarity of thoughts, and the negative effects of losing reason ensued. But it wasn't purely negative; entering a berserk state did indeed enable one to fight better, a double-edged sword.

The more one stimulated the Cultivation Technique, the more severe the surging of Blood Qi naturally became. At the moment, in order to break through, he of course stimulated the Cultivation Technique to its utmost extent, unaware of what level of consequences this would bring.

As for what is called the Mystical Gate of the human body, there is no unified standard; at least, the Inner and external schools have different definitions of the Mystical Gate.

The Inner school discusses acupoints and meridians, similar to what Zhao Changhe read in martial arts novels about "opening XX meridians"; which meridians are opened, which acupoints are broken through, determine the effects, corresponding to various layers of the Mystical Gate.

The external school talks about sinews, bones, and skin, with the performance of physical strength as the standard, like how much physical strength one can exert, how many bulls' strength one punch could unleash.

In the context of Blood Evil Skill, it's about whether the surging Blood Evil Qi in the vessels could be controlled to permeate into specific tiny capillaries, enhancing the necessary muscle areas, thus allowing for more targeted power in combat.

This indeed was the First Layer of the Mystical Gate—initially, actively mastering control over one's own muscles, bones, and blood vessels.

It sounds simple, very introductory, but accomplishing it is difficult, especially since one has to fully operate the Blood Qi to break through. If done improperly, uncontrollable Blood Qi and Evil Qi could cause the body to explode or turn one into a madman.

Zhao Changhe carefully followed the operational requirements of the Blood Evil Skill, trying to focus the surging Blood Evil Qi in his biceps. His arm visibly swelled up, nearly tearing through his thin clothes.

The observing Luo Qi could even imagine, if he took off his clothes, one could see the coiled muscles and the blood-colored aura exuding on the surface.

The swelling began to extend downward, from the upper arm to the forearm, and then flowed into the fist.

Indeed, a blood color started appearing on the fist.

This display was similar to when everyone saw squad leader Fang Buping attack Luo Zhenwu; so he had already reached this level so quickly, just a lower tier, but the principle was the same.

Was breaking through the First Layer that simple? Luo Qi cautiously looked at Zhao Changhe's eyes.

His eyes were indeed a bit red, carrying an air of madness and ferocity... After all, fully driving the Blood Evil Qi, it was impossible to control it perfectly; some inevitably entered his brain, thus the need for a protector.

But well... overall still okay? Zhao Changhe's eyes were red, looked ferocious, but his reason seemed to be intact.

While thinking this, she noticed Zhao Changhe's gaze becoming increasingly wrong, his breathing more labored, looking at her as if wanting to devour her.

Luo Qi instinctively took a half step back, muttering, "Damn it, you still say it's not an Aphrodisiac, but it sure as hell looks like it! What's next, are you about to pounce and tear...?"

As she stepped back, she asked expressionlessly, "Are you alright? Should I kick you into the pond?"

"No need..." Zhao Changhe struggled to speak, his voice somewhat hoarse, "Reason is controllable, but I feel terrible, as if countless ants are crawling in my veins, almost burrowing into my bones..." Despite the chilling snow and ice, huge beads of sweat dripped down from Zhao Changhe's forehead, clearly indicating extreme pain.

Luo Qi fell silent.

Both of them remembered what Fang Buping had said when they first joined: "Practicing Demon Skill will be very painful."

Previously, they hadn't felt it to this extent, even thinking that Fang Buping was exaggerating just to scare off Zhao Changhe.

But now that they began to break through the Mystical Gate, entering a deeper level, they were supposed to experience the pain.

What is Demon Skill? It harms oneself before harming others. How could the surging Blood Evil Qi in the body not bring agony? Knowing that Demon Skill had adverse effects, enjoying rapid progression also meant the negatives would eventually catch up, and now they were truly experiencing it firsthand.

Luo Qi hesitated.

He said his reason was controllable, but one couldn't be sure. What if he suddenly lost control when she approached him?

Even... In the depths of Luo Qi's heart, she vaguely felt it wouldn't be so bad if Zhao Changhe died... He was very nice to her, and she couldn't actively bring herself to harm him; wouldn't it be convenient if he was injured during training?

Why should she help him? And risk the danger of him losing control?

But still...

With that thought in her heart, she still found herself walking forward involuntarily, her hands gently touching Zhao Changhe's back.

By the time her hand made contact, Luo Qi realized what she was doing and sighed to herself.

The kindness she couldn't abandon... Zhao Changhe felt it, and wasn't she the same?

Enough said.

Zhao Changhe felt a gentle breath seeping through his meridians, soothing the disturbances within him. Luo Qi's Inner Strength was not inherently gentle or nurturing, but rather sharp and lethal. She was struggling hard to contain the fierceness of her Inner Breath, clumsily helping to put in order the chaos and smooth the blood fury.

The excruciating pain had slightly subsided, and he could feel Luo Qi's effort. In a low voice, Zhao Changhe said, "Thank you…"

"What else is a protector for, if not this? There's nothing to thank me for," Luo Qi replied with difficulty. "But this might at most relieve you a little, it's still not a cure. You came here to break through... With such pain, can you still make it? Maybe just give up?"

Zhao Changhe breathed heavily, "It was too painful just now, I forgot about it... Now that I feel a bit better, I remembered something. Sun Jiaoxi gave me an Elixir, maybe it was meant for this situation… something for pain?"

Luo Qi fell silent for a moment before slowly replying, "Perhaps it is. But have you ever thought that if in the future you have to rely on such drugs to live, it might be a way for the Demon Sect to control people. No wonder Sun Jiaoxi taught you earnestly and wasn't afraid of your betrayal… Did he ever tell you about this?"

Zhao Changhe also fell silent. Sun Jiaoxi indeed hesitated a few times but never fully explained. From his perspective, isn't it natural for the Demon Sect to control people?

The words Luo Qi had spoken that day echoed in his heart: Trust no one, including me, and including Sun Jiaoxi.

Zhao Changhe had already taken out his elixir, but with clenched teeth, he shoved it back into his pocket.

Without the medicine, relying solely on Luo Qi's amateurish organization was clearly insufficient. Unable to maintain his stance any longer, Zhao Changhe slowly curled up on the ground, grappling with the pain.

Who would have thought that just moments before they had been in a romantic setting, stealing glances at someone bathing, and in the span of a few breaths, everything had changed.

The chilling frost of winter solstice.

Anxious, Luo Qi said, "Then stop if it's too much, don't tell me you can't?"

Zhao Changhe gritted his teeth, "What then after I stop… Abandon my cultivation for another?"

Luo Qi was rendered speechless.

Abandoning one's cultivation usually resulted in utterly ruining one's potential, rendering it impossible to cultivate anything ever again.

"It's better to push through… to see if the end of the path… leads to death!" Zhao Changhe clutched at the rocks by the water's edge, his fingers bleeding streaks that dripped down into the pool, creating a heart-stopping sight.

Luo Qi, her heart racing, asked, "Why won't you take your medicine?"

"If it's a means to control people, why should I take it…" Zhao Changhe panted, "I refuse to believe I can't endure this on my own!"

Luo Qi didn't respond, instead fixing her gaze on Zhao Changhe's eyes, which displayed a crazed determination.

People said that Boss Zhao was a true man.

Luo Qi had always scoffed at that. A 'man' who blushed and bent over simply from brushing against a woman?

But in this moment, she truly believed he was one.

Zhao Changhe, while clutching the rocks, suddenly laughed, "Whether what Sun Jiaoxi did was normal or not is another matter… at least I wasn't wrong about you."

Suddenly, Luo Qi snapped, "You're an idiot!"

Zhao Changhe whispered, "At least this time, I didn't need their medicine… I relied on you."

Luo Qi paused, then surprisingly felt the chaotic Blood Evil Qi in Zhao Changhe's body begin to calm down. His bulging muscles also returned to normal, only a faint hint of blood flowing around his fists under the moonlight, casting an eerily indescribable shadow.

"Did you break through?" she asked incredulously.

"Yes," Zhao Changhe gently clenched and opened his fist, testing the change in his strength with a husky voice, he said, "Thank you."

Luo Qi shook her head. She had only somewhat alleviated Zhao Changhe's condition, which was hardly enough. Listening to his still trembling, husky voice was enough to know that. Amidst intense pain, where most people couldn't even focus, who other than a true warrior could defy the odds and break through the Mystical Gate?

It seemed it wasn't really Luo Qi he relied on—it was himself.

Yet, if he continued to cultivate, he would still have to face such hurdles, each more painful than the last. Could he endure it?

"In addition…" Zhao Changhe breathed weakly, his face nevertheless filled with joy, "We've turned misfortune into a blessing… I've found something... look."

Stunned, Luo Qi followed his gaze downwards.

In the pool of water, the streaks of blood, unknowingly at what time, had begun to spiral like a dragon.

Then, as if possessing a life of its own, it circled around the half-moon in the pool, swirling endlessly.